Electric razor



Feb. Z, 1957 P. s. KUszNlR ELECTRIC RAZOR Filed Sept. 14, 1953 7. 5 f IJ (ou 5 j w tu y f f H a Q/ 5\. L f 3 6 ww 3 5 m f I f 6 f 1| 0 f JNVENTOR.

pH/UP 5. Kasz/v/e,

nijted States., Patent ELECTRIC RAZOR Phillip S. Kusznir, Santa Monica, Calif.

Application September 14, 1953, Serial No. 379,993

1 Claim. (Cl. 30-34) This invention relates to electric razors and it is a general object of the invention to provide a simple, practical, improved electric razor characterized by a foraminous shell adapted to receive whiskers or hairs and a power driven rotating helical or screw shaped abrasive cutting element within the shell adapted to slice and shear oi the ends of the whiskers or hairs entering the shell.

Heretofore electric razors have been characterized by forarninous plates or shells adapted to pass hairs, or whiskers, a power driven oscillating or reciprocating cutting element within the shell adapted to shear off the whiskers or hairs entering the shell.

It has been found that shearing off the ends of a whisker or hair as by a normal or right angle shearing action results in crushing and splitting the ends of the cut members so that the resultant shave is rough and often times painful. Still further, the beard that is left is more noticeable due to the splitting and opening up of the newly cut ends.

It is another object of the invention to provide an electric razor that will hone and polish the ends of the newly cut whiskers or hairs.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an electric razor having few parts and which is easy to maintain and keep in working order.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electric razor that is dependable in operation and which is cheap and economical of manufacture.`

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferred forms and applications of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevational view of the electric razor as provided by the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of the structure provided by the present invention and taken substantially as indicated by line 2 2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional View taken as indicated by line 3 3 on Fig. l. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken as indicated by line 4 4 on Fig. 3 and showing a beard being sliced close to the skin and the ends of the beard being honed. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal elevational view of a cutting element of slightly different form and adapted for use in the structure as provided bythe present invention. Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the cutting element shown in Fig. 5 being a view taken as indicated by line 6 6 on Fig. 5.

The structure provided by the present invention includes, generally, an elongate cylindrical housing A having front and rear ends, an electric motor B within the housing A, an elongate foraminous shell C fixed to and projecting axially beyond the front end of the housing A, a cutter D within the shell, a forward bearing means ice E for the cutter at the forward end ofthe shell C, a rear bearing means F for the cutter within the housing A, and a suitable coupling means G connecting the motor B and cutter D.

The housing A as provided by the present invention is in the nature of an elongate hollow shell having a rear portion 13 forming a suitable carrier for a motor B and a front portion 14 supporting the bearing means F and housing the coupling means G. The body A is of such size and extent as to provide a suitable handle by which the structure can be gripped and manipulated when m use.

In the form of the invention illustrated, the housing A is characterized by an elongate cylindrical side wall 10 of substantially uniform thickness, and a rear wall 11 at the outer end of the rear end portion 13 thereof. The walls 10 and 11 deiine a chamber 12, which chamber is accessible from the forward or open end portion 14 of the housing and through which the various elements received by the housing can be inserted.

The motor B is preferably a conventional rotary electric motor located in the rear end portion 13 of the housing A and is provided with a suitable flexible cord adapted to be engaged with any suitable power source. The motor B has a power take-olf shaft 14 projecting forwardly therefrom and into the forward portion 14 of the housing A.

Since the details of the motor B and the particular means employed to mount the motor in the housing A can vary widely in form and construction and are not controlling or critical to the instant invention, I have illustrated these particular elements schematically in dotted lines in Fig. l of the drawings,

The forward or open end portion 14 of the housing A is characterized by an externally threaded longitudinal extension 15 adapted to engage and retain the shell C as will hereinafter be described.

The shell C as provided by the present invention and illustrated throughout the drawings is in the nature of an elongate cylindrical forarninous shell of steel, or the like, defining a cutter receiving chamber Ztl.

The shell C is characterized by a thin wall 21 with smooth inner and outer faces 22 and 23, respectively, and having a plurality of hair or Whisker receiving openings or apertures 24 entering it from the outer face 23 thereof, and in communication with the chamber 20 therein.

In the preferred carrying out of the invention the shell C has a straight rear or inner portion 25 that is straight and parallel with the housing A, and a forward or front portion 26 which is curved inwardly so as to converge toward the outer terminal end of the structure where there is a suitable bearing block 30 for the forward bearing means E.

It is to be understood that the shell C could, in practice, have straight, parallel sides throughout its length and that the bearing block 30 at the outer terminal end thereof could be formed as a separate element screw threaded or otherwise fixed to the shell. However, in the particular case illustrated I have chosen to illustrate these elements as being integrally formed as by forging, casting, or the like.

The rearmost or inner terminal end of the shell C is provided with an impervious internally threaded extension 27 engageable with the threaded extension 15 of the housing A and adapted to releasably secure the body A and the shell C in fixed aligned relationship.

The cutter D provided by the present invention 'is an elongate fabricated element adapted to occur and rotate within the chamber ofi the shellC. The-cutterD isshown as including a central longitudinal shaft substantially coextensive with and extending along the longitudinal axis of the shell C.

The shaft 35 is provided with an enlargement or bearing head 31 at its forward or oiiter terminal end and :adapted 'to 'engage and be supported by the bearing blck 30 on l theV shell;

The inner end of the shaft'35 is providedY with anextension 36 extending rearwardly into the chamber l2 et the housing A where it is supported by the rear bearing means F and makes suitable driving-connection with the motor B through coupling means G. y

The cutter D further includes a bodyl 40 of abrasive material such las silicon carbide, or the like, carried on or by the shaft 35 and shaped so its exterior conforms to the interior of the shell C defining the chamber 20.

The body 40 of cutter D is characterized by aforwardly pitched helical groove 41 of such pitch and width as to establish helical lands 42 about and along the longitudinal extent of the cutter body 40.

The groove 41 is characterized by a bottom 43 and side Walls 44, the side Walls being at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the cutterD where they join the outer periphery or lands of the body` 40.

It will be apparent from the above that where the lleading or forward edge of the helical land 42l joins the rear or trailing wall 44 of the helical groove 41, a suitablel cutting edge 45 is established.

The forward bearing` means E formed by the bearing block 30 at the forward end of the shell E and the head 31 on the forward end of the shaft 35 of cutter D, is characterized by a thrust bearing established by a dat rearwardly facing seat on the bearing block 3() and flat forwardly facing seat 51 on the forward end of the head 31 opposing and seated onl the seat 50; The opposed seats 50 and 51 of the bearing means E establish a suitable thrust bearing which, in practice, assures a proper tolerance between the inner face 22 of the shell E and the lands 42 of the cutter D as will be clearly set forth hereinafter.

In the particular case illustrated I have shown a shim plate or bushing 53 inserted between the faces 50 and 51 of the bearing means E.

In practice, the cutter D is initially snug in the shell C with the result that the cutter when initially rotated will grind or seat itself into lapped engagement with the shell C whereupon bearing engagement of the faces 56 and 51 with the shim plate 52 of bearing means E is established. After the faces 50 and 51 are in full bearing engagement with the skin and upon further rotation of `the cutter in the shell further grinding and/or lapping of the cutter in the shell is stopped.

In light of the above, it will be apparent that an extremethe rear end portion of the cutter D is located within the chamber 12 of the housing A and is characterized by an anti-friction ball bearing 60 having an' outer race 61 s'utablycarried by the housing A and an inner race 62 slidably passing an enlargement on the extension 36 of shaft 35. An' annular series of balls is carried by and between the races.

The couplingme'ans G adapted to establishdriving-ccnnection between the cutter D and motor B includes a polygonal socket extedin'g rearwardly into thei'outr Y terminal end ofthe power take-od shaft of vmotor B,.a

polygonal projection 71 on the outer terminal end of the extension 36 of shaft 35 slidably engaged in the socket 70, and a compression spring 72 between the motor B and enlargement 65 tending to-yieldingly urge the cutter D forward so the thrust bearing of the formed bearing means stops the cutter in the proper position in the shell.

With the structure provided by the present invention thus far described, it will be apparent that as the shell C is passed over the users'skin S, the hairs or whiskers W rind their way into thechamberwZQ Athrough the apertures 24 occurring-in the side wall 21'of the shell C whereupon theleading or cutting edge 45 of the rotating abrasive cutter will advance to engage the whiskers, and then slice and shear them of. It will also be apparent that as the cutter D continues to rotate the land 42 comes into contact with the newly'Y cut whiskers W and grinds or hones the newly cut ends thereof, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

Due to the helical shape of the cutter D an auger-like feeding action is obtained, `which action advances the beard cuttings K towards the forward end of Ithe shell C WhereV suitable exhaust ports can be advantageously provided to dispense the cuttings K from within the chamber 20. l l. I

The openings or apertures 24 adapted to admit'the whiskers W into the chamber 20 of shell C can, in practice, vary widely in form and dispositionin'g. In the instant case I have shown two types, one, simple, round, inwardly convergent holes 22, of but one size and dis;- posed in a spaced pattern about portions of the shell C, and the other slots 22S extending circumferentia'lly of the shell and arranged `in side` by side relationship -in rows extending longitudinally of the shell, as shown in Figs. l and 3;

It will be apparent'that lseveral patterns of apertures employing various sizes and shapespof apertures can be arranged about the shell so that the user can select one of the various aperture patterns best suited to shave his beard each day, lwhich suitability can vary greatly in the same person from day to day, since the condition of of ones beard is constantly changing due to such factors as diet, weather yand time between shaves.

Inv Figs. 5 andr6 lof the drawings l lhave shown aA somewhat different lform or design of cutter D wherein the body V408' thereof is characterized by Ia plurality of forwardly pitched helical grooves 41n of such pitch or lead that each one extends but part way around the body in extending from one end to the other thereof. The grooves 41a deline a plurality of helical lands 42a.' vIn this form of cutter the rear walls 44a, establishing the cutting edges 45a, aregat right angles to the lands 42a while the forward walls 44b of the grooves 40a are out'- wardly pitched or inclined so as to fair into the trailing edges ofthe adjacent lands 42a remote from-the cutting edges thereof.

v The number, pitch, and particular configuration of the cutting edges and lands on the cutters D provided by the present invention may vary widely and are established in accordance with the speed at which the cutter is to be rotated. This factor is highly significant since ample time must be given for the hairs or whiskers to enterthe chamber 20 defined by shell C and yet be sliced and sheared olf at a suflicient speed `to avoid multilation and pulling of the hairs.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the speciiic details herein set forth, but

`wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications closely surrounding the cutter and fixed to Athe handle, and drive means supported by the handle and adapted to rotate the cutter within the shell, the helical cutter being formed of silicon carbide and having a plurality of helical grooves therein leaving longitudinal helical honing lands adjacent 4the interior of the shell and establishing forwardly pitched helical cutting edges.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Barsch Feb. 13, 1951 

